PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Piotr Hermano (ranked 1195 p4p, 132 weight class) and Zhan Dhelan (ranked 1901 p4p, 195 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hermano
vs
Dhelan

168 cm
28
150 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

150 cm
21
145 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Piotr Hermano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zhan Dhelan!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Reed Andrews and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dhelan doesn't manage to clinch there - Hermano circles away.

Hermano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dhelan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
I was talking to Hermano's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hermano lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dhelan or not.
Hermano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Hermano.
Hermano misses with a punch to the body.
Hermano misses with a punch on the inside.
Dhelan is trying to pull guard but Hermano turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Hermano.

Dhelan ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dhelan no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dhelan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hermano looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dhelan working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermano scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hermano wants to control from the top but Dhelan keeps moving.
Hermano slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dhelan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hermano manages to get himself to full guard.

Dhelan wants to pass the guard but Hermano is keeping the position.
Dhelan keeps trying to improve his position.
Hermano looking for a sweep. Not yet Hermano, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan passes Hermano's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dhelan is trying to control the action in half guard but Hermano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dhelan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dhelan moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dhelan tries for a kimura but Hermano is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dhelan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hermano keeps working.
Hermano is trying to control Dhelan's posture but Dhelan avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermano prevents Dhelan from improving position.
My spies in Unlabeled MMA inform me that Dhelan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hermano gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Dhelan moves to the back.
Hermano trying to control the hands but Dhelan won't let him.

Dhelan tightening his grip on Hermano, looking for the choke.
Well, with Dhelan on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Hermano is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hermano is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Dhelan has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hermano has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hermano is having to fend off submission attempts from Dhelan, who is looking to sink in the choke. Dhelan doesn't have the hooks in though and Hermano manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhan Dhelan dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dhelan doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hermano misses with a body shot.

Dhelan moves into range and clinches up with Hermano.
Hermano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hermano to keep the fight standing.
Hermano gets through Dhelan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Dhelan prevents a body shot from Hermano.
Nice body punch from Hermano.

Dhelan gets control of Hermano's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dhelan will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hermano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dhelan is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhelan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dhelan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hermano sees it coming and defends easily.
Dhelan prevents Hermano from improving his position.
Hermano wants to control but Dhelan is keeping busy.
Hermano tries to get to full guard but Dhelan has control of the leg.
Dhelan is pressing down on Hermano's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hermano is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan wants to control but Hermano is keeping him busy.
Hermano is trying to maintain the position but Dhelan is very close to passing his half guard.
Dhelan is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hermano reverses the position - he's now on top in Dhelan's guard.
Dhelan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dhelan keeping moving, preventing Hermano from controlling successfully.
Zhan Dhelan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dhelan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hermano passes into half guard.
Dhelan is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan is pressing down on Hermano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hermano seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Dhelan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hermano manages to get himself to full guard.

Hermano pulls Dhelan in close to prevent any damage.
Hermano will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dhelan tries to free his leg and advance position but Hermano is retaining full guard.
Hermano wants to sweep here but Dhelan controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan forces his way into half guard.

Dhelan has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Hermano defend it? Dhelan steps over the head and cranks it - Hermano is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Dhelan!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zhan Dhelan!
After the fight, Zhan Dhelan was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.